Technicians compare rice seedlings grown using the Bayer solution with those grown conventionally. CHINA DAILY

At a seminar held in the county last week, local government officials and executives said that the land trust model was an attempt at sustainable development in agriculture.

Ye Shengtao, director of the county's agriculture committee, said the land-use right transfers would "greatly promote large-scale management that improves efficiency compared with traditional household-based farming".

He also said farmers would enjoy average annual income increases of 2,000 yuan ($320).

Wang told China Daily that thanks to Bayer's farming solution, which includes a package of products and services, he could save about 200 yuan for each hectare in pesticide spending alone.

The result is partially attributed to a Bayer product that treats the seeds before they are sowed to improve resistance against pests, so that the farmer can use less pesticides.

Wang said his farm included a small section that uses conventional farming techniques and pesticides where rice seedlings grow unevenly compared to the rest of the farmland, which uses the Bayer solution.

"Bayer's method will help reduce costs as well as environmental impacts in the long run," said Wei Yuzhao, head of Bayer CropScience's new business development. "We provide sustainable solutions for farmers." She said that more than 500 experiment reports from across the nation during the past two years showed that the Bayer solution could increase crop production by 12 percent on average and reduce pesticide use by 16 percent.

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